3 nabbed in manhunt for robbery suspects

Tuesday

Nov 26, 2013 at 10:50 PMNov 26, 2013 at 10:56 PM

By Linda Bock, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

SPENCER — Local and state police put a quiet residential neighborhood on lockdown Tuesday morning during a massive manhunt for suspects in an armed robbery of a Stop & Shop supermarket in Sturbridge Monday.

Sturbridge police Sgt. Earl Dessert said the robbery, the most recent in a rash of armed holdups police believe are connected, occurred shortly before 2 p.m. Police said a man armed with a handgun robbed the service desk at the Stop & Shop in the Center at Hobbs Brook, 100 Charlton Road (Route 20) in Sturbridge. He fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash and got into a car that had two other people in it, according to police.

Police said Officer Scott Griffin saw three men coming out of an apartment at 2A Linden St. about 8:45 Tuesday morning, recognized at least one of them as a suspect in the robberies, and immediately called for backup.

As the men started to get into a Mazda and noticed the police officer, two of them bolted on foot while the driver, whom police identified as Krystian Gubernat, 23, of 20 Wabash St.,Worcester, tried to flee. But Officer Griffin managed to arrest him, police Chief David Darrin SAID.

With a state police helicopter and state police dogs, officers converged on the area just outside the center of town. Spencer police told neighbors to stay inside, and officials at all of the schools in the area were notified to keep their doors locked. Sturbridge police assisted with setting up perimeters.

The other two suspects were in custody by mid-morning. They were identified as Jonathan Tufts-Raymond, 25, of Worcester, and Barry Hanson, 29, of 2A Linden St., Spencer.

Mr. Tufts-Raymond was charged with armed robbery (subsequent offense), larceny of property worth more than $250, use of a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony, assault with intent to rob, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, conspiracy, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Mr. Gubernat and Mr. Hanson were each charged with armed robbery, larceny of property worth more than $250, use of a motor vehicle during the commission of a felony and conspiracy.

The three men also face similar charges in connection with robberies of businesses in Worcester and Shrewsbury, police said.

Mr. Hanson also had two outstanding warrants not related to the armed robberies, according to police, and he was taken to Worcester for arraignment in Central District Court.

Sturbridge Officer Ronald Obuchowski, the investigating officer, was working with Worcester and Shrewsbury police, as well as witnesses, to identify the suspects. The Citizens Bank at 539 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury was robbed around 4:15 p.m. Nov. 20.

Worcester police confirmed Tuesday that Mr. Tufts-Raymond and Mr. Gubernat are suspects in five armed robberies, including a series of supermarket robberies.

Police spokesman Sgt. Kerry F. Hazelhurst said both men are now facing five counts of armed robbery and one count of attempting to commit a crime.

Mr. Gubernat is accused of being the getaway car driver in all the robberies, authorities confirmed.

The supermarket robberies started Oct. 30 at the Price Chopper on Park Avenue in Worcester. The Stop and Shop at 940 West Boylston St., Worcester, was robbed the next day. Police said the two men robbed two different Shaw's supermarkets on Nov. 3 and Nov. 9.

In each case Mr. Tufts-Raymond is accused of using a handgun to rob the supermarkets.

Central District Court records show Mr. Tufts-Raymond was also identified by a witness in a Nov. 20 robbery in Worcester. A warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the holdup at the Gold Buyers Store, 750 Grafton St. Police said Mr. Tufts-Raymond entered the store about 3:45 p.m. and pulled out a handgun. He allegedly demanded that an employee give his cash, court records said. The suspect made off with about $1,000 and a witness identified Mr. Tufts-Raymond through a photograph array, records show.

Sgt. Hazelhurst said the pair tried to rob the Worcester Credit Union on West Boylston Street in Worcester on Tuesday, but he didn't get any cash.

"I'm glad they caught them," said Shirley Derosier of North Street in Spencer. "Police said he's armed, he's got a gun and may be dangerous."

Ms. Derosier was caring for her grandson Tuesday morning when her sister and her sister's boyfriend stopped by to drop off a turkey when police arrived. The officer showed Ms. Derosier a photo of the Sturbridge armed robbery suspect and asked her if she saw him. She told the officer she had not, and he told her to stay indoors.

Her grandson, Arthur Theurer, watched police activity and said he believed one of the suspects may have run through the town's old cemetery, which had a layer of snow on it and he saw footprints.

"My dogs were going nuts," Mr. Theurer said. "I heard the helicopter," and saw all the cruisers converge on the neighborhood.

When Ms. Derosier learned that the suspects had been arrested a short time later, she said, "Good, now I can go down and get my mail."